- House Minority Leader Alison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) said the prospects for a legislative solution are bleak at this point, but stressed that Democrats have other options, including litigation.
- Gov. Mike DeWine said he would vote on President Biden’s bill whether it passes through Congress or the courts.
- Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose called on the House to hold an emergency vote and do it quickly.
The Ohio General Assembly on Wednesday failed to move forward with a plan to put President Joe Biden on the November ballot, highlighting bitter divisions among Republicans who control the chamber.
The House and Senate this week introduced separate proposals to move the certification deadline to 74 days before the Nov. 5 election. Under current law, state officials must certify ballots by Aug. 7, 90 days in advance, but Biden will not be nominated until the Democratic National Convention 12 days later.
Wednesday ended with no plans to get the presidential and Democratic nominees on the Ohio ballot. And time is running out. Secretary of State Frank LaRose said lawmakers have until Thursday to change the deadline. Unless an emergency clause is attached, a bill typically takes 90 days to become law.
Gov. Mike DeWine said he would vote for Biden regardless of whether it passes through Congress or the courts.
“I don’t want to trivialize that this has to happen, but I do want to trivialize anyone who thinks this might snowball and not happen,” DeWine said Wednesday. “The president’s name will be on the ballot.”
House Minority Leader Alison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) said the prospects for a legislative solution are bleak at this point, but stressed that Democrats have other options, including litigation.
“We saw once again that the politicians and the games they played with this bill ruled the day,” Russo said. “I think we’re officially lower than Alabama at this point.”
Ohio Senate deviates from bipartisan House plan
House leaders on Tuesday introduced a bipartisan proposal to add Biden to the vote and prevent future scheduling conflicts. Starting in 2028, political parties that fail to meet the 90-day deadline will be allowed to certify candidates 74 days before the election or within three days of the party’s convention, whichever comes first.
But Senate Republicans pursued a different path, and Democrats threw it in as a poison pill, refusing to support it. They included a one-time deadline amendment to a bill that would ban foreign nationals and U.S. residents with green cards from donating to voting campaigns. It is already illegal for non-Americans to donate money to candidates.
“We use the word compromise a lot,” said Senate President Matt Huffman (R-Lima). “I think this is a reasonable outcome. There are some likes and dislikes for both sides. These two issues will be resolved for the next election.”
Democrats say the bill, passed by the Senate in February, creates hurdles for groups that want to issue contested ballots. For example, it would require voting campaigns to register as political action committees, which critics say could burden hyperlocal efforts such as alcohol options.
Republicans have poured millions of dollars into campaigns for last year’s abortion rights amendment and a proposed constitutional amendment to create an independent redistricting commission this year. proposed this measure.
“We didn’t have a preference,” said Senate Minority Leader Nikki Antonio, D-Lakewood. “It wasn’t a compromise. It was frankly a dirty trick and we didn’t take the bait.”
Biden’s change in voting results highlights divisions in the Republican Party
The Senate approved the bill before the House convened Wednesday afternoon, leaving the Senate with two options. Either approve a proposal that was already on the table or agree to the Senate’s plan. They did neither.
Even before the Senate vote, Republicans opposed the House bill, arguing that supporting Democrats would not bring them a political victory. Rep. Brian Stewart (R-Asheville) said House Republicans were ready to agree to the Senate bill and accused Speaker Jason Stevens (R-Kitts Hill) of pulling the rug out from under House Republicans. .
Stevens said he was unable to get support.
In a statement Wednesday, LaRose called on the House to hold an emergency vote and do it quickly.
“The facts of this remain very clear,” LaRose said. “Democrats scheduled their nominating conventions too late to comply with Ohio law, and acknowledged that this unforced error creates problems for presidential candidates that need to be corrected.”
USA TODAY Network Ohio bureau reporters Erin Glynn and Jesse Balmert contributed.
Haley Bimiller is a reporter for USA TODAY Network’s Ohio bureau, which serves the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio.
